She got pregnant after the swap marriage, and the scumbag's family regretted it so much they cr

Seeing Gao Zhongbao's increasingly grim expression, Zhou snorted coldly and said to Gao Shangzhi, "You old fool, what's so interesting about a pile of broken stones and rotten porcelain! Can't you see that the Lu family doesn't take us seriously at all?"

Gao Shangzhi was watching with shining eyes and great interest when Zhou scolded him. He muttered under his breath, "Old woman, at least give me some face in my in-laws' house!"

Zhou glared at her, "What are you muttering about?"

Gao Shangzhi subconsciously shrank his neck. "It's nothing."

Lu Zheng stood to Lu Huan's side and slightly bowed, saying, "My dear in-law, you've misunderstood. My husband really has gone out on business."

As for the lady and young lady, I don't know. As you know, it's not proper for us men to enter the inner courtyard.”

They're just a merchant family; why should they be so particular about the strict separation of men and women? Zhou thought to herself, but showed no sign of it.

She slightly raised her chin. "It was indeed our fault that we did not inform you in advance today."

However, my future mother-in-law just left us standing in the front yard, and Lu Ruyi has gone and never returned. It seems the Lu family isn't going to accept this marriage.

As Zhou stood up, she said, "We'll go back now and send the divorce papers over!"

Lu Zheng cursed Li Shi and Lu Ruyi in his heart, walked up to Zhou Shi, but did not dare to force her to stay.

"My dear in-laws! Please don't say such hurtful things! Please sit down and have some tea and snacks. I'll have the maid go and urge them again!"

Outside the flower hall, Lu Ruyi tugged at Li Shi's sleeve and pleaded softly, "Mother! Don't wait any longer, or Brother Zhongbao will really divorce me!"

Li pulled her sleeve back and poked Lu Ruyi's forehead with her finger.

"I should have let that brat Lu Huan marry Gao Zhongbao back then. I must have been crazy to follow your nonsense and get involved in this arranged marriage!"

Lu Ruyi pouted and pleaded, "Mother, believe me! Brother Zhongbao will definitely amount to something in the future! You forgot, I said before that it would snow heavily for seven days straight in the north... Ouch! Mother, why are you pinching me!"

"If I don't pinch you, you'll blurt this out!" Li glared at her. "How many times have I told you? You'd better keep this to yourself and not tell anyone!"

Lu Ruyi lowered her head and said aggrievedly, "I'm just worried that you don't believe me, Mother!"

Li took a deep breath.

What's done is done, and there's no point in saying anything now. The key now is to maximize the benefits.

She opened her eyes and said coldly, "Come on, come inside with me. Don't say a word later!"

"understood."

When Lu Ruyi ran back to the Lu family, it was not only as a strategic retreat, but also because things were very different from her previous life, and she was in a state of panic. When Yulan suggested returning to the Lu family, she took the opportunity to leave.

Furthermore, she wanted to return to the Lu family and discuss countermeasures with Madam Li.

Before they could come up with a solution, the Gao family came knocking on their door.

Lu Ruyi composed herself and followed Li Shi into the flower hall.

She was met with Zhou's mocking gaze and lowered her head guiltily.

Completely unaware that Lu Huan and Gao Yan were sitting at the very front left.

Zhou sat back in her chair, glancing sideways at Li. "I just said I was going back, and my mother-in-law arrived right after. What a coincidence!"

Anyone who didn't know better would think my mother-in-law was eavesdropping on our conversation!

Li looked embarrassed.

This Zhou family member is far too blunt!

Who goes to someone else's house as a guest and then treats the host like that!

Besides, they came today to take Ruyi back home. How could she dare to keep threatening divorce at the drop of a hat!

Li forced a smile, "How could that be? My dear in-laws, you're really joking!"

Zhou said in a serious tone, "I never joke."

The atmosphere in the flower hall froze.

With Li Shi's arrival, Lu Zheng saw no need to remain in the flower hall any longer.

He stepped forward, breaking the deadlock: "This old servant will go to the main gate to greet you, Master."

Li nodded, seemingly forgetting the awkwardness of just now, and walked to the seat at the head of the table on the right.

He explained, "As soon as I heard my mother-in-law was coming, I rushed to arrange things at home, which is why I'm late."

"I thought you were avoiding people because you felt you were in the wrong!"

Zhou's tone was like that of someone who had swallowed a firecracker; no matter what Li's attitude was, she would respond with harsh words.

Li finally sensed something was wrong from Zhou's words. "I'm in the wrong? How am I in the wrong? It's not my Ruyi who can't have children!"

Gao Zhongbao's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, and he subconsciously glanced at the person diagonally opposite him.

He clarified, "Mother-in-law, please be careful with your words. I am just physically weak, and I can get better with medicine. It's not that I can't have children!"

“Mother, I told you so! Brother Zhongbao is just sick, not incurable!” Lu Ruyi interjected, standing next to Li Shi.

"Shut up!" Zhou pointed at Lu Ruyi. "If it weren't for you, you unruly troublemaker, how could my Zhongbao have suffered like this!"

Lu Ruyi's lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.

What does my mother-in-law mean by this? Did the Gao family find out?

That's impossible! Nobody knew anyone at the clinic back then, how could they possibly find out that she just let it slip!

She looked at Gao Zhongbao, trying to find the answer in the man's face.

Gao Zhongbao noticed her gaze, turned his face away in disgust, and didn't want to see her again.

Lu Ruyi panicked and helplessly grabbed Li Shi's shoulder, choking back tears, "Mother, I...I didn't!"

Madam Li patted her hand twice, signaling her to calm down, and asked, "What does my mother-in-law mean? After Ruyi married into the Gao family, she never left the house."

What happened at the academy was none of her doing! Don't even think about pinning such a mess on my daughter!

Gao Zhongbao sneered and looked at Lu Ruyi.

"It seems you didn't tell your mother-in-law the truth! Was it you who said you were the second young lady of the Lu family at the clinic?"

Oh no, Brother Zhongbao knows everything! That was the only thought in Lu Ruyi's mind.

She guiltily avoided Gao Zhongbao's questioning gaze and murmured, "I didn't do it on purpose..."

"Yes! I didn't do it on purpose!" Lu Ruyi argued loudly, as if encouraged. "I didn't even know what the prescription was for!"

If you had told me earlier that it was for treating kidney deficiency and physical weakness, how could I have revealed my identity to outsiders!

Ultimately, it's because you don't treat me like someone close to you!

Although Li complained to Lu Ruyi for not telling her the whole story, she still chose to protect Lu Ruyi at this critical juncture.

"Ruyi is right! To be honest, Ruyi's mistake was unintentional."

This isn't exactly a respectable matter. If you had told Ruyi beforehand, I'm sure she wouldn't have made her identity known to everyone!

Zhou retorted, "Does my mother-in-law mean that my son is now being ridiculed by everyone in the academy because he brought it all upon himself?"

"I didn't say that!" Li could not possibly admit to such an implied meaning.